One of the showiest woodland flowers you can grow, this handsome perennial has attractive, bluish-green, deeply-lobed leaves. From March until May, clusters of large, bright yellow, saucer-like flowers appear, which are followed by pointed, erect, green hairy pods. In dry conditions, the plant may go dormant in midsummer, otherwise it flowers on and off into autumn. This is probably the best of the "Wood Poppies" for a moist, rich, lightly wooded area, where if happy it will self-sow and multiply. ... Learn More

This ethereal and beautiful poppy relative from China has elegant pinnate leaves beneath exceptionally large deep yellow poppy flowers, produced over a very long season (May-Oct). This too rarely seen plant will very gently self-seed into shady places if you are lucky. ... Learn More

Another showy woodland flower, but this one is new and rare. This handsome perennial has attractive, bluish-green, deeply-lobed leaves. From March until May, clusters of large, bright yellow, saucer-like flowers appear, but unlike all other stylophorums, the resultant seed pods are sausage-shaped and hang in pendulous bunches, an unusual but quite attractive variation. In dry conditions, the plant may go dormant in midsummer, otherwise it can flower on and off into autumn. ... Learn More

This lovely campanula relative makes a naturally compact mound covered in masses of long and slightly tubular, violet bell shaped flowers. On a scree or gravel pathway it can seed around but should never ever become a nuisance. ... Learn More

This campanula relative carries masses of lavender bell flowers and deeply-toothed jagged leaves on a fine network of branching stems forming an attractive dome. Superb for a hot rockery and long-lived if allowed room to grow. ... Learn More

Mid-blue bells in great profusion completely cover a dome of much-branching thin stems clad in small pointed leaves in spring and early summer. A truly perennial plant of great value but sadly rarely offered. ... Learn More

From a compact basal rosette of toothed leaves rises a dividing system of branches, heavily hung with large cream bell-shaped flowers. This pretty Bosnian campanula relative should gently self-seed, giving glorious drifts in future years. ... Learn More

This unusual form of the old cottage garden plant (Symphytum grandiflorum) is one of the first spring flowers to appear in March. Short, rough stems bearing hairy leaves carry terminal bunches of long pink buds opening to blue and white tubular flowers. ... Learn More

Early rosettes of bright golden leaves brighten up the spring garden with snowdrops and crocuses. Later appear the pale blue and pink flowers. This form comes true from seed, viable seeds being very few and very difficult to collect! ... Learn More

Knowing that a plant has a common name synonymous with a mythical ancient city full of riches should give you a clue that someone thought very highly of the plant. Jewels-of-Opar has attractive, succulent-looking foliage and is quick to send up arching panicles adorned with light to hot pink star-shaped flowers. Amazingly, these flowers appear repeatedly over a long period of time. You might think you've heard of Jewels-of-Opar before, and you may be right. Your grandma may have grown the regular green version and called it Jewels-of-Opar. On the other hand, if you are a fan of Tarzan, then there is a distinct possibility that this is where you heard the name. Edgar Rice Burroughs mentioned Opar in 1913 in his second Tarzan book, The Return of Tarzan, and then in 1916, he wrote Tarzan and the Jewels-of-Opar. Leaves are edible and have medicinal properties ... Learn More

This ancient cottage garden favourite has (if you squeeze it) deliciously fragrant, ferny foliage and large showy sprays of composite white flowers with yellow centres and this plant grows so quickly that it can be grown as an annual. Although it has always been an important cottage garden plant, its most important claim to fame is as a cure for migraines. Traditionally, many people maintain that eating a sandwich filled with the leaves is a cure-all! We cannot confirm or deny this though. ... Learn More

"Golden Feverfew" The fragrant leaves of this best form of this ancient herb and cottage-garden flower, which bears golden-eyed white daisies on small, golden-leaved compact plants, have long been used to treat migraines and headaches. ... Learn More

These curious propeller-like flowers produce stubby white tubular petals which surround the yellow disc on this unique and unusual form which produce a shimmering effect when wind moves them. The name derives from Malmesbury in Wiltshire where it was found by Martin Cragg-Barber of the Natural Selection nursery. ... Learn More

Supplied by a collecter of these seldom-seen-or-grown old plants, this ancient cottage garden variety has cartwheel-like creamy-white flowers, with short spokes and a disproportionally large 'hub'. Flowering in profusion from May until August, this rare and quite distinct flower is superficially like Malmesbury, but has the added bonus of a shallow central dome of crested petals. ... Learn More

Clusters of bright yellow button-like flowers are shown off proudly on erect stems with deeply divided darkish green foliage. This bone hardy, old-fashioned, aromatic perennial herb will be happy on most soil types so long as they are well drained, and will make a cheerful addition to your cottage or herb garden. ... Learn More